The Sundays were an alternative rock band formed in 1987, consisting of Harriet Wheeler on vocals, David Gavaurin on guitar, Paul Brindley on bass, and Pat Hannan on drums. Wheeler's voice was very influential, and even though The Sundays only released three albums, they still left a big impression on the alternative music industry. The band disbanded in 1997 because they wanted to focus on their families and live more private lives.
“Blind” is a dream pop album by The Sundays, which was released on Oct. 19, 1992. The focus of the album is mostly about uncertainty and being emotionally vulnerable. Wheeler’s vocals combined with Gavaurin’s guitar work together to make a beautiful album.
The first song on the album, “I Feel,” starts very slowly, gradually building up until the drop at the 1:05 mark where it goes quiet. It immediately shoots back into the intensity again, only to slowly die down again until the instrumental section in the middle of the track allows tension to build before the music starts up again.
Next is “Goodbye” with a very upbeat vibe but more sorrowful lyrics. The tempo of the guitar creates a relaxed feeling, but Wheeler’s vocals convey the theme of loss and the sadness of saying goodbye to someone. Near the end of the song, there is a 1 minute and 56 second instrumental section that barely has any vocals which helps set up the final shift for the end of the song.
The third song, “Life & Soul,” is much softer than the other tracks on the album, which helps it have a calmer tone. This song's gentle instruments and vocals help contrast the rest of the album's more energetic aspects.
After that is “More.” It has a more ethereal tone, slowly building up the guitar, which creates tension in the song. Wheeler’s vocals sound distant, but this helps add to the feeling of longing for someone.
The fifth song, “On Earth,” is the shortest song on the album and has a slight echo with both the vocals and the instruments creating a dream-like tone. The track sounds very homey with a softer rhythm. Wheeler's vocals are overlapping each other, which makes the song seem more echoey.
“God Made Me” has a slower tempo with Wheeler pronouncing the words slower and quieter. This helps the lyrics stand out and creates a sense of weight and depth. The softer delivery of the lines seems like a revelation when she sings it, like she is reflecting on something.
Next is my favorite, “Love.” This stands out to me because of its amazing lyrics and beautiful message. The song feels warm, and Wheeler brings the lyrics to life with her delivery that makes the song move the listener. The song has many dips and jumps, which makes it one of the more powerful songs on the album.
The seventh track, “What Do You Think?,” has a more playful tone compared to the previous tracks and has a steady rhythm that carries light uncertainty in the lyrics. The song primarily focuses on trying to understand the feelings of another person and not knowing what they are feeling.
“24 Hours” brings a more somber and sorrowful tone to the album. The repeating guitar riff creates some tension while Wheeler’s vocals show emotion and explore the theme of loss.
The next song, “Blood On My Hands,” creates a sense of urgency and tension by having Wheeler’s vocals seem more forceful. The lyrics center around feeling guilty for something the speaker may have caused and wanting to be held accountable.
The 11th song, “Medicine,” has quieter vocals that almost blend into the instrumentals of the song. The main focus of the song is about healing and trying to take care of oneself.
The final song on the album, “Wild Horses,” has the most plays on Spotify out of the others. While I personally don’t like this song, the track has great instrumentals and emotional vocals that invoke sorrowful emotions.
I give this album a 8/10 because of the strong message and how the songs flow together so well. The tracks feature emotional lyrics and explore different themes that all tie in together. I believe that the album is very impactful and accurately captures emotional vulnerability and uncertainty.
